Impact of Soil Health Cards on Soil Fertility, Crop Yields, Forecasting and Adoption Challenges in Khowai District of Tripura, India

Abstract

The increasing demand for food due to population growth and climate change despite substantial agricultural growth, concerns persist about sustainability, especially nutrient balance aggravated by soil degradation. It's imperative to adopt scientifically sound soil fertility management practices, with low adoption rates. Widespread use of nitrogen based fertilizers harms soil health and the environment. Soil Health Cards (SHCs) offer a promising solution, furnishing personalized soil insights to improve farming practices and productivity. The study was conducted in the year 2023-24 using purposive random sampling method in Ramchandraghat village under Khowai district. This research investigates the impact of SHCs on soil fertility, crop yields, forecasting and adoption challenges. Results revealed that paddy growers experienced significant improvements in soil indicators, with a notable 127.88% increase in P and minor increases in K and N availability. Likewise, potato and cauliflower farmers found improvements in soil health parameters, with notable increases in P, K, and N availability. Yield analysis shows substantial increases across crops, paddy by 28.85%, potatoes by 38.77%, and cauliflower by 28.57%. ARIMA model were applied to forecast the subsequent next 5 years yield, gross income and cost of cultivation. The study also revealed notable constraints faced by participating farmers, highlighted that limited availability of inputs like urea, phosphorus and other micro nutrients when needed was the primary concern, expressed by 61.90% of respondents.